Firefighters responded to Market Place Apartments just before 6 a.m. Sat., Aug. 22
The actions of a resident of the Market Place Apartments helped limit the spread of a fire Saturday morning.
At 5:52 a.m. Saturday (Aug. 22), the Vancouver Fire Department (VFD) was dispatched to an apartment fire at 2900 General Anderson Avenue, the site of the Market Place Apartments. The VFD sent three fire engines and two ladder trucks and two battalion chiefs to the fire.
The first engine arrived within four minutes, and found a second floor apartment with light gray smoke coming from the windows and doors. The resident of the apartment was able to break into a fire extinguisher cabinet and get an initial hit on the fire until firefighters could arrive. These actions greatly reduced the size and extent of the fire.
Upon entering the apartment, crews found clothes that were on fire in the closet. The first-arriving fire engine and truck were able to handle the small fire and canceled all other responding units.
The fire was quickly extinguished with a water extinguisher, also known as a water can. Firefighters also dropped burning material out of the window to the ground so it would be safer to fully extinguish. Fire crews were able to efficiently air out the apartment by pressurizing the apartment using a motorized fan.
There were no reported injuries and all residents and neighbors were able to safely evacuate. Only one apartment was affected. The Red Cross is assisting two adults and two children.
The Vancouver Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire.
Information provided by Vancouver Fire Department.
